Latest news with #LeidenUniversity
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Underwater Fossils Surface to Reveal a Lost World of Archaic Humans
An artificial island of sand dredged from Indonesia's seafloor has accidentally revealed evidence of a long-lost sunken world, inhabited by early humans. Scattered across the newly created island, scientists have uncovered more than 6,700 fossils of fish, reptiles, and mammals dredged from the deep, including the remains of two hominin skulls. This is the first discovery of ancient human fossils between the islands of Indonesia. The bones belong to Homo erectus – the longest surviving of all our human relatives. Until now, the only evidence of H. erectus in the region was confined to the island of Java. But as it turns out, this population was not so isolated after all. More than 130,000 years ago, when sea levels were 100 meters (328 feet) lower than today, it seems that H. erectus left the island of Java and lived among the valleys and plains of sunken 'Sundaland'. Sunda is the name for the largest drowned shelf in the world, and while it is now a shallow sea, in the past, it was occasionally a land bridge between the Asian mainland and the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java. This means that H. erectus may have even come into contact with other human species living in Asia at the time, like Neanderthals or Denisovans. "Homo erectus could disperse from the Asian mainland to Java," says lead author and archaeologist Harry Berghuis from Leiden University in the Netherlands. "This makes our discoveries truly unique. The fossils come from a drowned river valley, which filled up over time with river sand. We have been able to date the material to approximately 140,000 years ago." At that time, experts suspect Sundaland resembled the African savannah. The fossils found on the artificial island included hippos, crocodiles, elephants, Komodo dragons, rhinos, big cats, and hoofed, ruminant animals, similar to bison or buffalo. Most are now extinct. Given the dry habitat of this prehistoric ecosystem, it is likely that H. erectus stuck to the rivers in Sundaland, which would have provided a perennial source of drinking water and fish. Experts suspect the hominin may have also taken advantage of large game that visited the waters. "Among our new finds are cut marks on the bones of water turtles and large numbers of broken bovid bones, which point to hunting and consumption of bone marrow," says Berghuis. "We didn't find this in the earlier Homo erectus population on Java, but do know it from more modern human species of the Asian mainland. Homo erectus may have copied this practice from these populations. This suggests there may have been contact between these hominin groups, or even genetic exchange." That's an interesting hypothesis, but further evidence is necessary. Past fossil finds on Java have led scientists to believe this island was the last stronghold for H. erectus – a hominin that journeyed out of Africa and across Asia in a decidedly impressive two-million-year run. By 400,000 years ago, however, H. erectus had gone extinct in Asia and Africa. Yet the species persisted on Java until around 108,000 years ago. It's a big win pulling the remains of H. erectus from the seabed off the coast of Java, but the fossils were found between a small and narrow strait separating two islands. How much further afield H. erectus travelled from Java is a mystery. "The answers may very well be at the bottom of the sea," write the authors. The research was published in four installments in Quaternary Environments and Humans here, here, here, and here. Scientists Discovered a Hidden Clue Why Men Are Taller Than Women Being Bored Could Actually Be Good For Your Brain, Scientists Reveal Couples Who Cuddle at Bedtime Have Lower Stress And Feel More Secure
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover 1,40,000-year-old human bone fossils under the sea
Southeast Asia has always been considered a crucial crossroads for early humans, giving out clues for the existence of early humans, and this time ancient fossils from the early humans have been found beneath the ocean floor. As sea levels rose following the last ice age, huge regions that were once rich with life and human activity got submerged, hiding secrets that modern science is now beginning to find out. These lost lands used to be a part of what is called 'Sundaland' by the researchers. Recently discovered fossils have found bones from an unknown group of Homo erectus, an extinct human ancestor, inhabiting these now-submerged areas. The discovery tells about how early humans lived, hunted, and possibly interacted with more modern human relatives in this biodiverse region. Fossils have been discovered beneath the ocean Bones from Homo erectus have been recovered from the seafloor near the Indonesian island of Java, revealing a previously unknown population of this ancient human ancestor. The fossils were found during a construction project that dredged millions of cubic meters of sediment from the Madura Strait, a body of water separating Java from the smaller island of Madura. This area was once part of Sundaland, a vast expanse of fertile plains and rivers that existed during periods of lower sea levels around 140,000 years ago. Research on these fossils have found that the submerged lands also supported varied forms of ecosystems, includoing with fish, turtles, river sharks, hippos, and large terrestrial animals such as elephants and the now-extinct Stegodon. The discovery of Homo erectus fossils in this region confirms that these early humans survived in such rich environments, using the natural resources available. Fossils also provide evidence of early hunting strategies Researchers found cut marks on some animal fossils, indicating that the Madura Strait hominids hunted turtles and large bovids. Interestingly, this is also the first evidence of turtle hunting in Southeast Asia. The selective hunting of cow-like animals means well organised strategy that could possibly be commonly associated with modern humans on the Asian mainland. As reported by Live Science, 'The Madura Strait hominins may have developed this hunting strategy independently,' said Harold Berghuis, lead author and researcher at Leiden University. 'But the other possibility is that we are looking at a kind of cultural exchange. ' This also leads to the possibility that the early Homo erectus populations were not isolated but may have learned from or interacted with other human relatives in the region. What do the fossils include? The fossils recovered include over 6,000 animal remains from 36 species, ranging from Komodo dragons to hippos. Komodo dragons, now endangered and limited to a few Indonesian islands, might once have been the dominant predators of Sundaland's open plains. 'Komodo dragons may have been the most important predators,' Berghuis said. Berghuis, working as a geotechnical consultant, spent weeks searching through the sediment and was surprised to find the first Homo erectus skull fragment on his final day. Comparing it to the famous Dutch Neanderthal fossil, he recognized distinctive features confirming its significance. Who are the Homo Erectus? Homo erectus, emerging over 2 million years ago, was the first human species to migrate out of Africa and establish populations across Asia, including Java. They survived on the island until 117,000 to 108,000 years ago. Later, more modern humans, including Denisovans and Neanderthals, replaced or coexisted with H. erectus on the mainland.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
A 140,000-year-old mysterious human ancestor bone found in LOST land where no one can visit
THE bones of a long-extinct human ancestor have been dredged up from the seafloor, just off the coast of what is now known as Indonesia. The discovery reveals a previously unknown Homo erectus population in 4 During the last Ice Age, sea levels were much lower than they are today Credit: Harold Berghuis 4 There were areas of the Earth that were not only habitable but occupied by our ancient ancestors, before they were lost to the sea Credit: Harold Berghuis 4 A cache of bones was pulled from the seafloor as part of a construction project off the island of Java and another smaller island called Madura. Researchers, who published four separate studies on their findings, say it is the first time fossils have been found in the submerged areas of the Indonesian archipelago. During the last Mountainous glaciers and vast, icy tundras stored water that eventually fed into the ocean over the course of several millennia. READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY There were areas of the Earth that were not only habitable but occupied by our ancient ancestors, before they were lost to the sea. These lost lands, called Sundaland, were once vast open plains with flowing rivers around 140,000 years ago. The newly discovered Homo erectus bones were found among a bounty of more than 6,000 animal fossils. Fossil remains have revealed the rivers of Sundaland would have been fertile hunting grounds for the Homo erectus. Most read in Science The rivers were teeming with fish, turtles, river sharks, hippos and other marine life, according to the new fossils. Lost world of 'Britain's ATLANTIS' Doggerland revealed – as artefacts from sunken nation appear after 10,000 years While land-walking giants such as elephants, the elephant-like Stegodon and water buffalo also populated the plains, according to the studies, published in the journal . There was once a valley between Java and Madura, which is now a body of seawater called the Madura Strait. Cut marks found on some of the fossils suggest our ancient ancestors once hunted turtles on the land beneath the Madura Strait - which is the earliest evidence of this, according to researchers. Although larger game was also on the table. These hominins were targeting cow-like bovids in their prime, according to researchers, which the Indonesian Homo erectus isn't known for. The different hunting strategy is associated with more modern humans on the Asian mainland, suggesting the Homo erectus may have interacted with more modern humans. "The Madura Strait hominins may have developed this hunting strategy independently," study lead author Harold Berghuis, a researcher studying Homo erectus at Leiden University in the Netherlands, told "But the other possibility is that we are looking at a kind of cultural exchange." 4 Sunrise at Mount Bromo in Java island, Indonesia Credit: Getty - Contributor
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran Academia's Just Peace event in The Hague: Rethinking the Emerging Global Order and its Impact on Iran
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On 19 and 20 June 2025, Leiden University Campus The Hague will host the Peace, Democracy, and Media Conference. Organised by the The Hague-based Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH), also known as Iran Academia. Set against the backdrop of the Just Peace Festival, this conference, under the theme "Rethinking the Emerging Global Order and its Impact on Iran", explores the erosion of democracy, the re-emergence of war as a political tool, and the manipulation of media in authoritarian contexts. Supported by the Municipality of The Hague, Leiden University's Dialogue programme, and The Hague Humanity Hub, this two-day event will gather over 200 participants—policy experts, journalists, scholars, and civil society leaders—for unfiltered discussion and global exchange. Follow the programme and feel free to participate: About the Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (ISSH), Iran Academia Founded in 2012, ISSH was born from a powerful premise: education should be free, critical, and accessible to all—especially to those silenced or excluded. In a world where academic freedom is often suppressed, particularly in Iran, ISSH offers a vital alternative. Through an interdisciplinary, master's-level diploma programme and open courses, the institute has reached more than 11,000 learners, including students from within Iran and refugee communities across the globe. Its educational approach is radically inclusive—allowing students to engage in their native languages, and encouraging not only the consumption of knowledge but its active creation. Rooted in The Netherlands and enriched by a faculty from institutions such as Harvard, Sciences Po and Leiden University. Hani Mojta, researcher at Iran Academia "Education should not be a privilege reserved for the few. Our mission is to reach those who've been excluded and offer them not only knowledge, but the confidence to ask difficult questions and shape their own future." Read more: About the Road to Summit and the Just Peace Festival leading up to the NATO Summit in The Hague Road to Summit: Just Peace Festival: About The Hague & Partners The Hague & Partners is the official marketing & acquisition organisation for the promotion of The Hague, focused on residents, visitors, conferences, businesses and institutions. View original content: SOURCE City of The Hague Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
These human ancestors weren't as lonely as experts thought
For years, archeologists assumed the ancient Homo erectus population that lived on present-day Java existed in general isolation from nearby island relatives. However, a pair of fossilized skull fragments recently found off the Javanese coast are helping experts recontextualize the lives of the region's H. erectus populations as they existed around 140,000 years ago. According to a study published May 15 in the journal Quaternary Environments and Humans, life for the Javanese H. erectus wasn't always as lonely as we thought. Today, Indonesia consists of multiple islands between Asia and Australia, but that hasn't always been the case. Beginning roughly 2.6 million years ago, the larger area has occasionally existed during periods of lower ocean levels as a larger, unified lowland landmass known as Sundaland. While H. erectus fossils have previously been found on Java itself, none were known to exist further outward in areas like the Madura Strait, which separates the islands of Madura from Central Java. That all changed thanks to over 176.5 million cubic feet of sand. The massive amount of sediment was dredged over 2014 to 2015 as part of an Indonesia land reclamation project, but it soon became clear that the sand also contained valuable historical remains. Scouring the material ultimately yielded around 6,000 fossil specimens from ancient fish, reptiles, and mammals–including the unexpected pair of H. erectus skull fragments. According to Harold Berghuis, study co-author and an archeologist at Leiden University in the Netherlands, their team's discoveries are 'truly unique.' 'The fossils come from a drowned river valley, which filled up over time with river sand [dating to] approximately 140,000 years ago,' he said in an accompanying statement. Berghuis described that era as the 'penultimate glacial period.' Earth's Northern Hemisphere was so populated with glaciers, that the global sea level averaged nearly 1,100 feet lower than it does today. Because of this, Sundaland in the time of H. erectus greatly resembled the African savannah of today—largely dry grassland broken up by major rivers surrounded by narrow strips of forests. 'Here they had water, shellfish, fish, edible plants, seeds and fruit all year round,' said Berghuis. Sundaland also featured a variety of animals, including multiple species of elephants, rhinos, and crocodiles. Strikingly, the bones the team found even have evidence of butchery by H. erectus. 'Among our new finds are cut marks on the bones of water turtles and large numbers of broken bovid bones, which point to hunting and consumption of bone marrow,' Berghuis added. While this contrasts with earlier Javanese H. erectus populations, it had previously been documented in more modern human species who lived on the Asian mainland. According to the study's authors, this indicates that Sundaland's H. erectus may have learned those techniques from them. 'This suggests there may have been contact between these hominin groups, or even genetic exchange,' theorized Berghuis.
